Let's Go To Israel

- Arrive in Israel

- Shehechinyanu: Welcome to Israel ceremony overlooking the Mediterranean Sea

- Welcome dinner and orientation in a local restaurant

Overnight: Tal by the Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv

- Volunteer at the Leket Distribution Center, which saves food from hotels and restaurants and distributes it to the needy

- See the lovely crafts and enjoy the street performers at the renowned Nahalat Binyamin Arts and Crafts Fair and taste the street food at the adjacent Carmel Market

- Visit the ANU Museum of the Jewish People to see how the Jewish People spread across the world and their contributions to it

- Get a glimpse into Hebrew Culture on a graffiti tour of Southern Tel Aviv

Overnight: Tal by the Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv

- Jaffa Stories and Coffee: in the home of Doris Hiffawi, hear about her life as a minority (Christian Arab) in Jaffa and - over coffee brewed by her family and Arabic sweets - find out how female entrepreneurs like Doris are bringing change to this socioeconomically deprived neighborhood

- Visit the sub-terranean factory in which Jews produced bullets literally under the noses of the British Army before the War of Independence at the Ayalon Institute

- Depart from the hotel for Save a Child’s Heart, a program that brings children from Africa and across the Middle East to Israel for life-saving heart surgery; then interact with the children as they prepare for or recover from their surgery

- Over dinner, meet with a political analyst for insight on the events in Israel since October 7^th

Overnight: Tal by the Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv

- Travel south to the Gaza Envelope

- In the border city of Sderot, view into the northern Gaza Strip for a glance at what happened on October 7^th and the ensuing war; then visit the Police Station Memorial

- Pay your respects at the Reim Supernova Festival site

- Meet with a farmer who survived the October 7^th onslaught, hear his stories, and pick and taste fresh vegetables for your enjoyment at the Salad Trail

- Meet and speak with soldiers at the Shuva Brothers Soldier Pampering Station, providing fresh-cooked meals round the clock for troops entering or exiting the Gaza Strip (this could be substituted for a BBQ dinner with soldiers for an additional cost of about $200 per person)

- Continue to Jerusalem and check into your hotel

Overnight: Herbert Samuel Hotel, Jerusalem

- Begin our exploration of the Jewish “love affair” with Jerusalem from the Haas Promenade with its magnificent views and powerful Biblical, historical and contemporary narratives

- Continue to the City of David - the original Jerusalem of King David and First Temple times - for a guided visit with Bible in hand; then descend Warren's shaft a splash through the water tunnel that King Hezakiya dug to save Jerusalem from the Assyrians 2,700 years ago (or take the dry tunnel)

- Return to the hotel and prepare for Shabbat

- In the evening, have a Kabbalat Shabbat service as a community at the Ezrat Yisrael section of the Kotel; then join the thousands of Israelis and Jews from around the world as they bring in the Shabbat at the Western Wall

- Shabbat dinner in the hotel

Overnight: Herbert Samuel, Jerusalem

- Attend one or more of the many Shabbat services taking place in Jerusalem

- Study session with Rabbi Kantor

- Shabbat lunch in the hotel

- Walking tour of the Christian Quarter of the Old City, including a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

- Musical havdallah, followed by a free night in town

Overnight: Herbert Samuel, Jerusalem

- Learn and remember at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum

- Take the Connection Path up to the Mt. Herzl National Military Cemetery; hear the stories of the leaders and soldiers who are making sure the Holocaust could never happen again, with a special focus on those buried here over the last two years

- “I’m all shuk up”: As a contrast to the morning, take a culinary tour of the vibrant Machane Yehuda Market for sensory overload; then participate in a cooking workshop and have a community dinner over the results!

Overnight: Herbert Samuel, Jerusalem

- Travel south to Masada, the fortress built by King Herod and used by Jewish zealots defending themselves from the Roman army; hear one of the most dramatic stories in Jewish history

- Hike the Waterfall Trail in the desert oasis of Ein Gedi and hear the Biblical stories of King Saul and David which took place here

- Float in the Dead Sea

***Possible Alternative Jerusalem Experience for those who have already been to Masada***

Overnight: Herbert Samuel, Jerusalem

- Depart from Jerusalem and travel north through the Jordan River Valley

- On Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu, learn about the effect the kibbutz movement had on the beginnings of modern Israel and how they have become world leaders of organic agriculture with their production of…bugs!

- Ascend the Golan Heights

- View into Syria; get an update on what is happening in Syria today by Lt. Colonel (res) Eyal Dror and hear about Operation Friendly Neighbor, which brought injured and sick Syrians into Israel for lifesaving treatment, which LC Dror commanded

- Wine and cheese tasting at the boutique Pelter Winery

- Continue to our hotel and check in, followed by dinner

Overnight: Kibbutz Merom Golan Guest House, Golan Heights

- In Tzfat, explore the alleyways and synagogues of mystics and trace the development of Kabbalah in the 16^th Century

- Meet with a Kabbalistic artist and see how s/he incorporates his mystical studies into her/his artwork

- Discussion on Jewish mysticism and the power of Kabbala with Rabbi Eyal Riess

- Time permitting, flock to the Hula Valley for birdwatching of migrating birds

- Dinner in the hotel followed by a group reflection session

Overnight: Kibbutz Merom Golan Guest House, Golan Heights

- Drive north to the Alma Research Center and meet with Lieutenant Col. Sarit Zehavi understand how this NGO helps the IDF collect information from enemies to the north

- Visit the home of Agere, an Ethiopian immigrant; over a traditional injera lunch, hear the incredible story of her journey “home” to Israel

- In Caesarea, see the incredible ruins of King Herod’s ancient port city, once the capital of Israel during the Roman and Byzantine periods

- Final discussion and farewell dinner in Caesarea

- Continue to the airport for your flight home

- Start planning your next trip to Israel!

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Listed activities and speakers are subject to confirmation.

Program will be staffed by a Keshet Israel Tour Educator.

All breakfasts plus underlined meals are included in the package price.

This itinerary is proprietary to Keshet and is intended for the promotion of and to inform those considering joining this Keshet trip. It is not to be transmitted to any other party without prior authorization from Keshet

A general overview and brief explanation of terminology for most travel insurance plans
Trip Insurance is more important now than ever before. 
We cannot accept responsibility for any losses or expenses that you or any member of your party may incur as a result of failure to secure adequate insurance coverage.

Please note that in general, only “Cancel for Any Reason” (CFAR) policies cover cancelations due to COVID-19 (or any pandemic), reimbursing you up to 75% of prepaid, non-refundable costs. The CFAR policy must be purchased within 10-21 days (varies by insurance company and policy type) of your first deposit/payment made towards the trip. You can purchase the insurance policy up front in one payment to cover the full projected cost of the trip – or - you can pay for the policy in segments as you make trip payments to Keshet (deposit, 50% and final payment). Payment for each insurance policy segment must be made immediately after you make each tour payment in order to maintain your CFAR coverage. These options should be discussed with the insurance agent prior to purchase.
Trip Cancelation – This allows for reimbursement of prepaid, non-refundable trip costs in the event that you need to cancel your participation in the trip. 

A standard trip cancelation policy provides coverage only if you cancel for one of a number of specific, covered reasons spelled out in the terms of the policy (illness, injury, a close relative in a life-threatening situation, etc.) for which you can be reimbursed for up to 100% of the non-refundable trip costs. 

Some policies offer the option of adding Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage. If you add CFAR coverage, you will be covered for cancelation for any reason. With CFAR coverage, if you cancel for reasons specified in the standard policy as “covered reasons” you are entitled to 100% reimbursement. If you cancel for reasons not specified in the policy you will be entitled to 75% reimbursement. 
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Trip Interruption – This allows for reimbursement, most commonly in a situation when a person needs to leave their trip in the middle, or misses part of the trip, due to a “covered reason”. 

This benefit pays up to 150% of the amount insured (taking into account the likely added costs of needing to leave early or possibly being forced to stay longer.) Your trip interruption must be due to a “covered reason”. Some plans offer an additional option of purchasing “trip interruption for any reason” coverage which will reimburse you 75% for trip interruption for any reason – including trip interruption for reasons not covered by the standard policy. 

Medical Protection – This is normally “indemnity coverage”, meaning that you will need to pay the medical expenses directly and the insurance company will reimburse you later. In some emergency situations, the insurance will pay the medical provider directly. Standard coverage is between $50,000 and $150,000, depending on the plan. There is also supplemental coverage available if you feel more comfortable with higher medical cost limits.

Emergency Medical Evacuation – When deemed necessary for a person to have medical care provided at a facility in the United States.  Standard coverage is between $500,000 and $1,000,000.

Travel Delay – If your flight is delayed (typically) 6 hours or more and due to the delay you incur costs - those costs are covered. The standard limit is $200 per day but it varies by plan.

Missed Connection – If your original flight is delayed (typically) by 3 hours or more and it results in your missing a connecting flight, you can be reimbursed for resulting additional costs. Standard coverage for this $500, but it varies by plan.

Baggage & Personal Item Protection – If your baggage and/or personal items are damaged or lost by a common carrier, you can be reimbursed for the value, up to the policy limits. 

Baggage Delay – If your luggage is delayed (normally 12 hours or more) you can be reimbursed for costs incurred due to the delay, up to the policy limits.
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        Preexisting medical conditions can be covered under most policies by following certain guidelines when purchasing the insurance.

       The insurance information provided above is of a general nature only. Keshet urges you to purchase trip cancellation insurance and supplemental medical coverage (which covers preexisting conditions) which meet your particular needs. We recommend the "Cancel For Any Reason" policies which offer the broadest coverage.